Illuminator for lamps and switches



I. K. RIC-HIE.

ILLUMINATOR FOR LAMPS AND SWITCHES. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, $919.

1,367,891. 4 Patented Fens, 1921.-

Jl qaummtoz JAMES K. RICHIE, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATOR FOR LAMPS AND SWITCHES. l

Application filed April 9, 1919.

T all w from it may concern Be it known that I, Jnerns K. RICHIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Illuminator for Lamps and Switches, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of this invention to provide a simple means whereby an article, such as a luminous element, may be held upon a lamp socket, on a switch, or on a like member, for the purpose of illuminating a switch button, the finger piece of the lamp socket, the rotary member of a switch, or the like, the device being equally applicable for use in connection with door bells, medicine bottles, match boxes or the like, to hold in close relation to devices of the kind mentioned, either a luminous member, or a marker of any desired sort.

It is within the province 'of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, itbeing understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings 1- Figure 1 shows in elevation, a lamp socket whereunto the device forming the subject matter of this application has been applied, parts appearing in section; Fig. 2 is a fraginental elevation showing the structure assembled with a push button; Fig. 3 is a perspective showing the device detached, parts being omitted; and Fig. i is an elevation showing a rotary switch to which the structure claimed has been applied, parts appearing-in section.

The device hereinafter claimed may be made of any desired material, bendable metal being preferred. The structure includes a body 1 having a projecting end flange 2 and side flanges 3, the flanges 2 and 3 being supplied with projections or teeth 4, which are bendable. The plate, a portion of which forms the body 1, is crimped upon itself, transversely, to form a rib 5 of inverted U-shape, disposed at the inner ends Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

Serial No. 288,773.

of the side flanges The structure termiates in a bendable end 6 having an opening 1.

The flanges 2 and 3 and the rib 5 define a socket, into which an article of any desired sort may be inserted. Although I do not bind myself as to the particular construction lot the article above alluded to, the article may comprise a layer of luminous material indicated at 8, on which a transparent shield 9 is superposed, the shield, ordinarily, being made of glass. Obviously, without effecting a change in the showing of the drawings, a numbered sheet may replace the luminous material 8 if the device is to be used on a medicine bottle, a match box or the like, and the inscription on the sheet may be of any desired sort.

hen the article, whatever be its construc tion, has been mounted in the socket above defined, the projections or teeth at are bent over parallel to the body 1 to hold the article in place.

The applications of the device are many, but, as illustrating one use to which the structure may be put, a screw 10 or like se- .-uring element may be passed through the pening '7. to hold the structure on the base 100 of a switch, including a push button 12, the luminous material serving to light up the push button so that the same can be found readily in the dark.

This application of the invention is disclosed in Fig. 2.

Passing to Fig. l, it will be noted that the end 6 may be bent at right angles to the body 1 and be inserted between the shell and the insulation 16 of a switch 17 including a finger piece 25, the function of the luminous material 8 being to render the finger piece visible.

Passing to Fig. 1, the bendable end 6 may remain in alinement with the body 1 as shown at 18, and be inserted between the parts 19 and 20 of a lamp socket 21. and may be disposed as close as desired to the finger piece 22 of the lamp socket.

From the foregoing it will be clear that a, means is provided whereby an article of any kind. such as a luminous member, an index or the like may be held in place one structure of any sort wherewith the article is adapted to be used.

A rib 5 serves to strengthen the device and forms, as well,'one part of the socket hereinbefore alluded to. Further, when the end 6 is disposed at right angles to the body 1, as indicated at lat in Fig. r, the end cooperates and bears against the rib, the strength of the structure being enhanced.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is t r A device of the class described 'cornprising a strip bent transversely to form av rib of inverted Ushape, the rib being extended entirely across the strip, the rib defining a body and an end of the same Width as the body, the body and the end being located in the sazne plane, the rib comprising inner and outer Walls, both of which project be yond said plane, the end having an opening,

the body being supplied with mar inal teeth disposed in groups and cooperating with the being of suflicient height so that the outer wall of the rib will form an eflicient abutment for. the end When the end is bent; and an article in the socket, the teeth being bend able to overhang the article. v

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing as "my own, I have hereto aiiixed'my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' JAMES K. BYTE-HE.

lVitnesses Finn) J. SPANG, C. J. TURNER. 

